My family and I attended a wedding this past weekend. This was not the traditional white wedding but I loved that there was a lot vibrant colors. The bride wore a red dress and she was beautiful.
My daughter was the wedding planner for this wedding and pulled it off for a little over $200.00.
I'm frugal, but really, two hundred dollars?

This is a breakdown of the costs:

Wedding dress (Thrift store)

Veil Borrowed

Shoes Borrowed

Flowers $40

Invitations Home printed

Hair Stylist Donated

Makeup Donated by Consultant

Food Donated

Photographer Free

The photographer part is where my story gets interesting.
My son who is a photographer was going to take pictures but he was called to work 3rd shift the night before so when he was supposed to be at the wedding taking pictures, a bomb explosion would not have woke him up.
My husband and I are sitting on the back row when my sister in law walks in with my son's camera and hands it to me. My daughter has sent the camera to me to take pictures. (because she was in the wedding also)
I have never taken a picture on this camera,(and it has all the bells and whistles). I can barely take pictures on my cool pix camera. I'm sitting there saying Oh my goodness, you are kidding me.
No she wasn't!!
She shows me which button to push for the picture,
That concluded my crash course in photography.
I'm sitting there thinking, I'm not about to get up and jump around like a photographer does when he takes pictures even though I know this is the way to get good photos.
I slide to the end seat and take on the task of wedding photographer.
It's then that I realize that I don't know what to look through to take the picture. There is a big holey thing on the top so I line up the wedding couple in it and snap away.
I was definitely a photographer on the fly.
Actually, the pictures turned out good considering I was looking through the wrong hole.
The point of my story is, always listen to your inner voice. When it tells you to sit down, it will pay you to keep your seat, unless you want people pointing and saying, look she's looking through the wrong hole.

My niece was married a few months back and came up with this idea to save her wedding cards.
Our family is very sentimental and will figure a way to save anything personal. To make a binder, center your cards with the rings and punch the holes.

Here is a photo of the open book. She has two binders full of wedding cards and invitations This will be a treasure for years to come. I love the idea that someone loved my card enough to include it in notebook.

This is a great way to preserve all the sentiments and well wishes from family and friends.

Weddings are so expensive but here's a diy project that will help the bride save money. My daughter made these reception glasses for a friends wedding. Using the brides chosen colors, she made glasses for each parent and put the names and the wedding date on the back. The glasses are just adorable and this is a great project to cut wedding costs. Less stress for the bride and a sure way to make great memories.

I love velum and this idea is so cool for brides. Use clear candle holders and wrap in velum that has been printed with the bride and groom's name. They really add ambiance to the room. For a different twist add your guests name and use for place cards. Measure your candle holders circumference and height and set up a template for your velum. Leave a small space at the top. You can set up your template in publisher, using your measurements. If you use the Label option you will get more prints per page.Let your light shine brighter by punching hearts in the velum with a heart hole puncher.An even easier way to make these is to buy the frosted candle holders and use clear labels for your name. Add a thank you message and use them as wedding favors. You can tie a ribbon around the candle using your wedding colors. Another variation is to and buy votive candles in your color theme.

Tis the Season for Brides and the friends and families it brings together. Visit my new site where I share wedding tips to save money, Where to find the most trendy invitations, wedding t shirts, wedding caps, save the date magnets, and even games to play at your bridal party. This is a new site so check back often for more great ideas to help make your wedding day a once in a lifetime event.Design Chic Link

Want to give your groom to be a chuckle? Then Send him these "cool" socks to wear on your wedding day. You can print out a Cold Feet @ The Pretty Blog label for a pair of socks . The label says to make sure you don't get cold feet, With love from your bride.The groomsmen, best man, and ushers are sure to get a smile from these wedding day socks. And the groom....he will never forget the socks he wore on his wedding day. There are two color labels to choose from. Great way to add a little humor to your wedding.

What a great idea this is from The Pretty Blog. These sparklers can be lit as the newlyweds depart from the church or from the reception. Can't you just see how festive this would make any wedding? I'm saving this idea for my daughter'sweddingwhen she gets married. I think it's a spectacular idea. The Pretty Blog has free printables for the sparklers. It just doesn't get better than that.*You can tape or glue a small matchbook of matches to the back.

How adorable are these Tuxedo Strawberries? This would be great for Bridal Parties or at awedding reception. Here are the directions from pastrychef Elizabeth LaBau. Though the recipe seems long, it is only 4 basic steps. Love these.

Ingredients:

1 lb large strawberries

12 oz chocolate candy coating

12 oz white chocolate candy coating

Preparation:

1. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil or waxed paper and set aside for now. Wash the strawberries and dry them carefully, as excess water can interfere with the dipping process.2. Melt the white chocolate candy coating in the microwave, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. 3. Dip a strawberry into the white chocolate until it is almost submerged, but leave about 1/2-inch of undipped berry at the top. Allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl, and scrape the bottom of the berry against the lip of the bowl to remove excess white chocolate that might pool around the bottom of the berry. Place the berry onto the foil-lined baking sheet, and repeat with remaining berries, until all have been dipped in white chocolate. 4. Place the dipped berries in the refrigerator to set the white chocolate while you prepare the dark chocolate for dipping. Place it in a microwave-safe bowl and melt it, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. 5. Once the white chocolate is completely set on the berries, take one berry and dip it into the dark chocolate at a 45-degree angle, so that the chocolate covers one side of the berry on the diagonal. Now turn it in the opposite direction and dip the other side on a 45-degree angle. The final result should be a berry that has a white "V" of chocolate showing through a darker outer coating. 6. Allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl, and scrape the bottom of the berry against the lip of the bowl to remove excess chocolate that might pool around the bottom of the berry. Place the berry onto the foil-lined baking sheet, and repeat with remaining berries, until all have been dipped in dark chocolate. 7. Now it's time to give your berries bow ties and buttons. To pipe these on, you can use a piping bag fitted with a small round attachment, a paper cone, or a plastic bag with the corner snipped off. Whichever method you choose, spoon some melted chocolate into your tool of choice. Make a bow tie by drawing two connected triangles at the top of the white V. Below this, place two or three dots for buttons. Repeat until all of your strawberries are decorated. 8. Place the tray back in the refrigerator to set the dark chocolate, for about 10 minutes. Your Tuxedo Strawberries are now ready to eat! They will keep in the refrigerator for several days, but I think they are best soon after they are made. If you do save them for 2-3 days, expect to see some condensation on them as they come to room temperat

I found these cute and *romantic tea light holders made with jars and doilies. Such a clever idea that would be perfect for Valentines. Several of these placed around a room can really set the mood for quiet Valentine's evening. You can find instructions for these at Crafts by Amanda.This site is full of cute craft ideas.

Here are some useful tips for your wedding reception that can save money on decorations.

Make columns for a wedding reception using the cardboard tubes from a carpet store.Paint them white, and zip tie 3 of them together. Decorate with tulle and twinkle lights.

A few garden trellises propped up against the walls make the perfect base for your wedding reception decorations. Select a trellis that has a measurement of at least 6' on one side so it will display high up on your walls. These can be purchased at any garden center, including many big chain hardware stores. Simple wooden trellises are very cheap, but you can also find beautiful iron and copper ones.

Have a friend or family member take a Polaroid of your guests as they arrive at your reception. Pin to a silk tree that has been decorated for the occasion . Give Photo to your guests as favors.

Dress your wedding attendants and family members in matching t shirts to get into the spirit of the Wedding.

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer, and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the "honey month" or what we know today as the "honeymoon." -- Submitted by ARareJewelnLA

Why a wedding ring is worn on the third finger? It was once believed that a vein of blood ran directly from the third finger on the left hand to the heart. The vein was called vena amori, or the vein of love, and early writings on matrimonial procedure suggested that it would be appropriate for one's wedding ring to be worn on that special finger. Source: Ever Wonder Why? Douglas B. Smith / Mass Market Paperback / Published 1992

Life in the 1500's: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and were still smelling pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. -- Submitted by Sparkegrl

February 10th is World Marriage Day.

The second Saturday in September is a popular date for weddings, but not in 2004 when the second Saturday fell on September 11th. Most couples did not want their wedding anniversary to fall on that date.

The wedding shower originated with a Dutch maiden who fell in love with an impoverished miller. Her friends "showered" her and her groom with many

Here are some neat Bridal Games for next Bridal Shower you Host: Visit Cool Tees' Bridal Shop for Gifts for your Wedding Party and Save the Date Magnets.

WITH THIS RING

Each guest receives a minature wedding band (from craft store..or item of your choice.As guests arrive explain to the them only once: If you catch someone saying the word 'Bride’ or 'Wedding’ you get to take their Craft Wedding Band. The first person to say can I have the wedding Band (or other item) receives the item. Often you will have someone say “You said bride or You said wedding give me your gold band”, when they just said the words that can not be said. The guest with the most items at the end of the shower is the winner.You can play for a small prize or just theprestige of winning.

KNOW YOUR GROOM

Ask the groom 20 or so questions about himself. At the shower, have everyone ask how well they think the bride knows her groom. Have them write down how many of the questions they think she will get right. The closet answer wins.

Some question ideas are: "What was his first pet, pets name, His favorite music group,song color, How old was he when he had his first kiss,what was his first job, how many states has he lived in,his first car, favorite food, etc.

ADVICE FOR THE BRIDE

Cut construction paper into heart shapes and Hand all of the guests one with a pen and ask them to write "advice for the bride" example, Never go to bed mad.

Place completed hearts in basket and ask the bride to read them out loud. Makes a great keepsake for the bride.

Need custom save the date magnets? These magnets are so easy to customize. Click on the picture and add your name and date and you're done. This is a great way to let your wedding guests know what date to reserve for your wedding. See all The Save The Date Magnets and Matching Stamps at Zazzle. You can also upload your photos and make custom save the date magnets with your favorite pictures.

I found this great article with tips for a spring wedding. Please visit her site and for cool wedding party gifts, brides t shirts, and wedding gifts, visit Enchanted Designs Online Wedding Shop.The tulips are blooming, the temperatures are rising - what a perfect time for a wedding! Get started planning your spring themed wedding now with these inspiring ideas for spring weddings...Spring Theme Weddings - Things to ConsiderDaylight saving time - In 2008, daylight saving time begins on Sunday March 9th, after which the sun will set an hour later. Keep this date in mind if you envision a sunset outdoor ceremony.Prom factor - May and June are prime prom months, so be sure to book your transportation and locations early.Variable weather - spring weather can be unpredictable. An unseasonably warm and sunny Friday can give way to a miserably cold and rainy Saturday. Be prepared for both extremes.All in the Details - Spring Wedding IdeasInvitations & Stationery

1. Add a spring motif - such as a tulip or butterfly - to your stationery suite

24. Bridesmaids dresses - Pastels are a springtime classic. Keep yours fresh by choosing a color and allowing each of your maids to select a different hue. Or go in another direction with a bolder turquoise, fuschia or mango.

25. Avoid satin shoes - they don't hold up well under springtime showers

Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a comprehensive wedding planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, along with articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to lead brides through every step of the planning process.

1. Spend more on an inherently beautiful space,you'll spend less on decorations.2. Put the start time for your wedding one halfhour earlier than you intend to start. Thisworks great for the guests that are always late .3. Make your centerpieces with flowers from alocal garden center. Buy flats of flowers thatmatch your color scheme. Buy flower pots andspray paint with your wedding colors. Put 2 or 3 flowers in a pot. Co-ordinate with beautiful ribbonstied around the pots. You can place several together as thecenterpiece..after the wedding, give them aswedding favors.4.Stumped for a wedding theme? How about a favoritemovie you two like, a song, a favorite vacation, ora period of time like the roaring 20's for example.Almost anything the two ofyou love can be used as a theme for your wedding.5.Tricky but money saving tip...have an elegantwedding cake made with fake layers using Styrofoam,and also real layers. During the cake cutting ceremony,you will of course cut the real layers. A less costlysheet cake from the kitchen can also be used to serveyour guests.6. Visit Enchanted Designs for great wedding attendant gifts.and keepsake gifts for the bride and groom. Unique coasters, totes,and t-shirts for each team member.

This cake looks good enough to eat but it is made from cardstock. When filled with candy, this makes a great favor for your wedding guests. You can find a lot of free templates for wedding favors online.Play around with different designs and I'm sure that you will come up with something you you will be very proud of for party favors. There are sites that have ready made cake boxes if you are not the creative type..you can just print them out, glue, and fill.If you are not the crafty type person, visit Enchanted Designs for great wedding gifts. We have many keepsake gifts, t-shirts for the bride and groom, t-shirts for the mother and father of the bride, and even wedding tips for your special day.

Here is a unique gift for a special bride. Purchase a I survived my wedding tote. You can add useful gifts for the bride. It makes a memorable wedding gift for the bride and groom. You can make this tote a bridal gift by putting things the bride will need on her wedding day inside the bag.

Here are some suggestions to get your started:

Nail clippers

Mini sewing kit

Flavored water

Her favorite candy

Hairbrush

Comb

Items she may need to get ready for the wedding

This is a gift any bride would appreciate on her wedding dayCheck out our Wedding Shoppe for more totes, Wedding gift ideas, and tips to help plan your wedding day

For a unique gift you can use a hoop cheese box and fill it with items for the bride and groom. You can leave it in its natural state or paint it. Many meat departments have them if you will ask them to save one for you.

Instructions

Fill it to the top with newspaper or excellsor.

Place a wine bottle or sparkling water in the center.

Add 2 wine glasses filling them with chocolates (If you do candy wrapping, you can customize with wedding couples name or a Monogram.

A candle can be added, but be careful mixing food and candles. You may want to add artificial flowers or grapes to really make it stand out.

The next step is what really makes the gift stand out.... Cover the entire box in tulle. Take a piece about a yard long and gather it all to the center. When you get everything in place, hold it with a rubber band, then cut the tulle. It will fan out into a big fluffy bow. Guaranteed to be a hit.

Cheese boxes are alot of fun and there are many possibilities. Play around with the items you put in the box, changing them around, until you get the design you want.Visit our Wedding Shoppe for gift ideas and wedding tips.